Student Counsellor Part 2

Lucas presented this speech in his running for student counsellor. He wrote the speech all by himself, very impressive for a 8 year old, I must said. Here is what he wrote:

 

Hello everybody,

 

I am Lucas Lim and I want to become a student counsellor so I can help the school become a nicer and friendlier place!! I would like to ask all of the people in my class who have a problem with the school ways, such as having to go hungry for a long period of time before getting to go for break time, and try to do something about it. I am good at solving problems and I am also good at coming up with new ideas!! My school is important to me because I learn in this school and that it is a good learning place! I have several ideas on how to improve the school myself! Here are a few of them. I have an idea to stop students from littering and throwing things at each other! I also have another suggestion to make maths more challenging so the questions can be something like this-There were 7964 candies at a party with 132 people and each person ate 56 candies but 42 went missing and 21 were found, how many pieces were there left??(Answer:551)!!!!! I would like to talk about science because all the science experiments always take a long time to end so, I would like to try to make some of them shorter! This idea could help people do their work faster so they can start doing the next subject faster. I  believe  that people should vote for me because I can make this school a better place in a lot of different ways!!

 

See how Lucas over-used the exclamation marks. He received 2nd highest vote in his class but lost when he has to compete with the whole year 3. He even had a 2 page power point slides with animation. It was hilarious. He came back from school one day and said he needed to use Power Point to do his slide. He opened and then said. 'Why is our power point is so old? It is 2007 and the school has 2012'.

When the result was announced, he came back and said:

Lucas: I lost the student counsel.

Me: Are you upset?

Lucas: A bit.

Me: It was a good try. You can try again next year.

 

 

 

Money Matters Part 3

After weeks of pestering from Lucas, I reluctantly agreed to let him top up his cash card for school. The first time, I gave him RM20 and told him it has to last for a week. He did quite alright. On the second week, I thought save some hassle and gave him RM50 and told him it has to last for two and a half week. And guess the hell break loose. On the first day, he spent RM8. I told him to spend less the next day to catch- up with the overspent. The second day, he spent RM5. I told him he has to reduce more. The consistently spent RM5-8 for the next few days. One a half week later, he was downed to a few ringgit. I asked what is he going to do about it. He said he buy an oily bread (yu tiou) for RM1 and eat half for breakfast and half for lunch. When the money finally run out, he did not even bother bringing the cash card to school. When I asked how much is left, he said I don't remember. That was a daylight lie. He never forgets numbers! So, the last few days, he has to pack breakfast and lunch to school. He did not even want to tell me that he is bringing meals to school. He just told the maid what to pack for him. Cheeky fellow...

Lucas is 8!

Lucas celebrated his birthday earlier this week. It happened to be a public holiday. A few neighbours came over to wish him and stayed on for hours to play games on the Play Station. He had fun or at least not bored. He gets iPad for unlimited time on his birthday, and Play Station. The night before, after he went to sleep, I decorated the house. I put up some Happy Birthday buntings. And I put the balloons on a place where he will go first thing in the morning - in front of the TV.

When he saw in the morning, he came to me (I was still asleep) and said
Lucas: I saw the decoration. Thank you.
Me: Do you like it?
Lucas: Yes

A few minutes later, Chloe came to me and whispered
Chloe: Why on my birthday, I only have 1 decoration (1 bunting) and why kor kor gets so many?
Me: Errr... I will do more decoration for your next birthday, ok.
Chloe: OK.
Chloe: Do you remembered on my birthday, kor kor gets a present? A sword which he still has it in the blue basket?
Me: Huh?

She was hinting to me why didn't she get a present on her brother's birthday but the brother got a present on her birthday! I completely forgot about that. I did not spend much time looking or thinking of the present to buy to Lucas. And what more to say about for Chloe. When the grandparents came later, thank goodness the grandparents got a present for Chloe too! That saved my day.

We had birthday cake for tea-time and went to his favourite Japanese restaurant. A restaurant we frequented so often that we even get a membership card for him. He gets 10% off for each visit and 20% off on his birthday week.

We gave him a crystal making set and his grandparents gave him a Hex Bug. The Hex Bug does keep him occupied for the next few days.

When later during bedtime, I asked:
Me: Lucas, now that you are 8, when you are going to sleep on your own bed?
Lucas: Never. Maybe when I die, you can put my coffin on the bed and bury the bed with me.
Me: What a waste of space to bury your bed?
Lucas: When will you die?
Me: I don't know.
Chloe: Dad will die first, then Mom, then Aunty C (my maid), then you (Lucas) and me.
Lucas: Chloe, it does not follow the age. It depends on how you take care of yourself.

Now, where did he learn that?

His RM300 to buy what he wants - he spent the remaining US$40 to buy virtual gems for his iPad game, Growtopia. I asked why would you want to use real money to buy virtual gems. He then gave hundreds of reasons what he can do with the gems. I should change career and learn to write games.

Money Matters, Part 2

The money borrowing business rubs to Chloe. This girl is owing money to her brother and the neighbour! She wanted to buy snacks after school and she asked the brother or the neighbour to buy. Since she does not have pocket money, she happily telling her creditors that she will pay them when she is in Year 3, i.e. 2 years from now. And the creditors agree to her terms. The debt is rising every week!

Student Counsellor

In Lucas's school, from Year 3 onwards, the students can choose to run for student counsellor. Students counsellors candidates have to 'sell' themselves with ideas on what improvement they can bring to the school. Then the other students will elect whom they think is best. Lucas worked on his speech and this is what he wrote. I copied and paste from his word document.

 

 

Hello everybody,

 

I am Lucas Lim and I want to become a student counsellor so I can help the school become a nicer and friendlier place!!  {his ideas}
 I  believe  that people should vote for me because I can make this school a better place in a lot of different ways!!

 

I have to delete his ideas for now because the father thinks I should not post it until he has presented his speech.

Bribery

I am the best mother when it comes to bribery. Lucas asked for a birthday party. He asked if he can invite 5 friends over. I would love to if the house is not going through renovation. My garden is in a mess and we can't have kids running around a dangerous garden.So, I said no party in the house. Then I looked at a place called Jump Street, a place fill with trampoline. It sounded great until I find out it is going to be a long weekend on this birthday. That place will be jam packed. So, I have 2 brilliant ideas.. We can either have a pool party with no fancy food (the club has no restaurant) or I give him RM300 to buy whatever he wants. He chose RM300! What a realistic boy. He spent RM100 buying the cups for his speed stacking and the remaining for future loot.

Money Matters

The kids are adjusting well in school and it is a new phase for Lucas. Lucas gets pocket money when he is not bringing food to school. Sometimes, he brings a meal and buy the second meal (breakfast or lunch) in school.  Sometimes, be brings both meals and don't get any pocket money.
After a few weeks, there are many stories. He borrowed money twice from his friends because he overspent. And on both times, there were to buy drinks. At such young age, he already knows how to borrow money. Then he also told us stories about how they are not being honest. The cashier at times gave too much change but the kids do not bother to return the extra. At times, when the cashier are distracted, the kids pretend they have paid but in actual fact, they have not paid in full. No wonder is school canteen is making a lost. So, the father told him he has to return the extra change he received to the cashier next week. No more cheating. And most of the time, he spent half of his pocket money buying snacks and drinks. Told him numerous time not to but he always has excuses. He bought 100 plus once and buy another brand of isotonic the next day. When I told him he broke his promise, he said I did not tell him other isotonic brands are banned too! Once, he spent his whole pocket money buying ice-cream for lunch! First taste of freedom deciding how to spend money and this is the outcome.


Chloe is another uncontrollable shoppeholic. When we go out, without fail, she will ask to buy one thing from each shop. The rule is they get to buy one thing when we go shopping and this girl is pushing it to the limit asking to buy one thing from each shop. I have to say no all the time and it can get very frustrating. Then, when we get home, she will ask "when we go next, can you buy it?". She does not give up easily.

Show not Teach

Chloe has been using this phrase quite often but I still don't get what does she mean.
She was practicing her piano, and I tried to correct her. So, I demonstrate and showed her how to play with the right tempo. Then she said, "You are showing me, but you are not teaching me!'
I wasn't too sure what she meant by that.


Fast forward a few days, she suddenly said
Chloe: I don't want to go swimming lesson tomorrow.
Me: Why? Don't you like swimming?
Chloe: It is too difficult (she is learning free style where she has to turn her body to the side, move her hand and breathe)
Me: That's why you need to go to learn how to do it. Syahmir (the teacher) is teaching you.
Chloe: He is just showing me. not teaching me.


Rather puzzled what she meant by show and not teach.

School Starts

Today is the start of the school new academic year. Chloe is in Year 1 and Lucas is in Year 3. Things are easy today because classes start at 10am. The teachers were giving orientation to the new students.
Tomorrow, it will be 7.40am. Early morning for all of us now.

Lucas is in Year 3 and is considered independent enough to buy his own food from the canteen. In the last 4 years, the parents paid for the meal plan and the kids got fed for breakfast and dinner. No fuss on what food to pack or how much the kids should take to school. So, yesterday, we had to strategize what to do with his meals. We tried to find a hidden pocket inside his school bag so that he can keep some emergency cash. In case he lose his wallet, he still have some cash stashed. Then we talked about when he wants to bring food and when he wants to buy from the canteen. The school has cash card system. Parents can buy pre-loaded value card and the kids just swipe it in the canteen. Cashless. We thought he should handle cash so that he knows how much he spent and the value of the food he buys. Today, I packed him cheese sandwich and gave him RM10 (US$3.30). I told him he can only buy 100 plus once a week, french fries once a week. He can't buy those food everyday. When he came back from school, he said he can't find the cheese sandwich in his school bag (??). So he bought a sandwich from the canteen and a packet of juice. He said he waited 20 mins for pay for his food and spent RM5.50. We told him he can keep the change in his piggy bank and that would be his savings. Tomorrow, I will pack him some fish ball and rice and will give him RM4. I do not want him to buy packet drinks or soft drink everyday. Such are the extra work I have to do - think of what to pack for him for his meal. If he has his way, he will buy french fries and 100 plus everyday.
Then I asked what did you do in school today? He said he spent 4 hours unpacking his stuff to the locker and drawers. On the first day of school, the kids bring ALL the books and stationary. All these will be left in the classroom and never brought home until the last day of school. The only book the children bring home is the planner i.e. the communication between the teachers and parents, and homework in folder.

Chloe is in Year 1. It is a 'big' building and the kids are no longer be cuddly molly by the teachers. My only reservation is the toilet is outside the classroom. In early years, the toilet is inside the classroom and the teachers can keep an eye on them all the time. She said she went to the toilet once today and she forgot to tuck her shirt in. Other than the toilet, I have no reservation. They are escorted everywhere by the teacher - to canteen, to library, to computer room, to PE, to pick-up points. When I asked her what did she do today, she said she was putting all her stationary in the cubby hole. Oh..she said all the children had to go to the auditorium and was welcome by the principal.

At the end of every year, the teacher asked them to write 5 friends whom they would like to be together for next year. This girl is the one of the 5 names Chloe chose.

In Year 1, Lucas chose these 3 friends of his to be with him but none was selected. Skip a year. these 4 good friends are together in Year 3. Lucas is very happy.

Waiting for 10am and had a snack in the canteen. I showed Lucas how to buy food just to make sure he knows what to do. Actually, it was unnecessary worry. The teacher queued with them and guide them when buying food.

It is all right

A joke Lucas told me - what would you say if you have your left leg and your left arm cut off? .
The answer is ÏT IS ALL RIGHT.


He is getting sharp at picking up jokes.

Reverse Psychology

One day, in the car during a journey to somewhere, Lucas started this conversation


Lucas: Mom, I have a method to get all the things I ask for from you.
Me: Hmmm...
Lucas: I won't tell you the method.
ME: OK.
Lucas: Do you want to know ? (he is getting impatient).
Dom: Lucas, if you tell Mom, then Mom will know.
Lucas: (can't hold any longer) It is reverse psychology.
Me: Ah...where did you find this?
Lucas: Dairy of Wimpy Kid
Me: What did it say?
Lucas: It says if I tell you I do not want something, I will get it.
Me: You can try and see if you will get it.
Dom: Lucas, you can play iPad the whole day. (laughed).
Me: Yeah, right. You will not get it either way I said it.


When we get home, he showed me the few pages on reverse psychology. It was quite funny. It has a few scenarios and at the end, it says "Your mom has been using reverse psychology on you all your life and you don't even know it'.


Funny and true indeed!

Graduation and Holidays Pictures

Here are some pictures on their graduation and our a day trip holiday to Frasers Hill.
My Dell notebook can't upload pictures after I've done some cleaning. The notebook was so sluggish that is takes forever to boot up and change screen. I have to copy the pictures to USB thumb drive and use Dominic's notebook to upload. This is so cumbersome.

Chloe at her graduation ceremony. She was getting ready to give her performance, singing and dancing.

Getting her certificate from the principal.

Our stop over before Frasers Hill. This town is called Kuala Kubu Baru (KKB). We stopped for lunch and wonder around the town. It is just like the town I grew up 30 years ago.

This shop sells live bird and fish. He was hand making a rattan bird cage.

Shop that repaired CRT TV. No flat screen.

The older version of Toy R Us.

We stopped for durian..NOT. We stopped for toilet break and someone was selling durians nearby.

First stop and final stop in Frasers Hill…playground.

We did boating

Lucas was brave enough to try to walk inside a ball.

Little miss posing. She took a picture of me and I took a picture for her.

Summer Holiday

The last week of school was rather chaotic. There were so much activities. Chloe graduated from Early Years/Kindergarten. She is moving on to Year 1 later this month. Lucas graduated from Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2). He is moving on to Key Stage 2 (Year 3 and 4). So, there were graduation ceremonies parents can attend. On top of that, there were last day of school party where the parents bring some food for the party.


Their year end result were out. Chloe's teacher has 'promoted' her to be on her top tier students. The fact that she achieved it was not because she has grown smarter overnight. The teacher managed to build her confidence and she is comfortable in speaking up in class. I am very grateful to the teacher and I told her so. I am praying hard that she will get a good teacher for Year 1 and she will continue to build her confidence. She is smart by nature (ha ha..all parents said that about their children). She just need some push to build her confidence. At home, she is completely different. She is such as feisty girl. Lucas always complained why is Chloe such a bossy girl.


Lucas was doing good too. His teacher has emphasized many time that he needs to work harder to move his story writing to the next level. I must said I am disappointed with his story writing too. Now that he brought all his school work home, I read all of it.  His work is rush work, he was too lazy to think harder. not that he is not able to. The teacher gave me hips of tips to get him to improve. I need to find time to sit down with him.


There is no plan for holidays this holidays. We had done all the holidays or at least planned out. I would like to take them to snorkelling or beach this holiday but the it was not easy to plan. Plus we are doing a small renovation at home on our sinking patio. Maybe we will do a day trip such as going to Batu Caves. Another 3 and a half week of holiday and they will be back to school.

Diaper and Formula Milk Free

One of Chloe's 5th birthday resolution is to be diaper free and stop drinking her formula milk. And she kept her promises. On her 5th birthday, she reminded me that she is supposed to be diaper free but I insisted on her wearing diaper to sleep for another night. The fact is I was not ready for her to have accident on the bed at night. So, I told her 'Today is the last day". The next day, I quickly bought a mattress protector, just in case accident happens at night. After she felt asleep, I slide the mattress protector under her. Sometime past midnight, she took off the mattress protector and throw is on the floor. And the bed was dry the next day!.
On the second day, again, I slide the mattress protector under her. When I woke up, the mattress protector is on the floor again.
On the third day, I gave up and not bother with the mattress protector. Until today, I have not have a wet bed yet. She is good....really good. The surprising thing is she is not even in a hurry to go to toilet when she wakes up in the morning.


And for milk, she had been drinking milk 3 times a day, almost like a baby. She drinks milk first thing in the morning, after she comes back from school and before she goes to sleep. I told myself this has to stop. On her 5th birthday and coincidentally her formula milk finished. She has separation anxiety with her milk. She asked a few times if I am going to buy her milk. I said no. Lucas took sympathy on her and said maybe I should buy her the last can as her 5th birthday gift. I said no. I asked Chloe to try drinking fresh milk. She took a sip and said she doesn't like it. After a week of missing her milk, she has now totally forgotten about her milk. Never asked for it again.


In fact, yesterday, I threw away all their old milk bottles. There must be at least 8 bottles. Lucas was so sentimental that he wants to keep one for memory.


Now, travelling should be lighter. I will not have to lunged diapers and milk and bottles everywhere I go. :)

Chloe is 5 !

Chloe turned 5 on 10 July 2014. A few weeks earlier she asked what is she giving to her friends for party packs. I said you decide. Then Lucas and Chloe both decided to do a piñata in the Arts and Craft class. Chloe chose a 'present' instead of animals. It took them 4 weeks to complete this piñata.
Then I suggested that maybe Chloe should take the piñata to school and share with 'goodies' with her friends. The teacher said it is ok to bring the piñata to school and that sealed the option. The kids had a ball time smacking the piñata.

The piñata made by Lucas and Chloe, and filled with goodies by me.

Chloe was the first to be blind folded and hit the piñata. Then each of her class mate gets a turn.

Then we had a small celebration at home. Chloe wanted to make sushi for his birthday dinner. So, I cooked some Japanese rice and the adults had tempura.

 

Chloe mixing the sushi rice.

Opening her presents…lots of them. She said her favorite is Elsa doll.

Making and eating the sushi he made.

Birthday dinner - tempura for adults, sushi for Chloe, sashimi for Lucas.

The neighbourhood kids club had a celebration for July babies. And of course we went. The kids enjoyed the  clown. That should be enough celebration. :)

They danced Chicken Dance and Gangam Style

The clown entertaining the kids.

Cake cutting with the July kids

Holiday, School and Holiday Again Soon

So, what has come and go?? So much…
The kids had their mid term break, back to school and very soon summer break.
During the mid term break, Dominic took them to Cameron Highlands. The last time they were there was when Chloe was 6 months old. That's four and a half year ago. I had to stay back as I have no leave. They sure had a great time without me. The postcard they sent me from Cameron Highlands just arrived yesterday..2 months after they sent it.

In the playground on one of the tea house

With the grandparents visiting tea plantation

Plucking strawberries…something they wanted to do for a long time

Lucas said his favorites activities are plucking strawberries and drinking milkshake in front of a fire place.

Back home, missing the iPad.

Back to school, we had parents teachers meeting, the last meet for this academic year. Lucas maintains his status on being the top group in his class but he has to work hard to move to the next level. His teacher lists out the extra effort he has to put in such as all the varieties he has to have in his writing skills (use adverbs, use adjectives, use dialogues, more details etc). He has to keep his daily work even during summer break to keep his momentum going.

For his drum, he is doing very well. He managed to keep his enthusiasm and in fact play very well. He was doing some 'promotional' work for his school by performing in public on behalf of his music school. I just hope his drum enthusiasm lasts a long time. 

He dropped his drum stick half way in the performance but he was very cooled about it. He picked it up and continue playing without missing a beat.

Chloe is doing very well in school too. She has everything exceeding her peer groups except for Listening and Speaking. She still made sentence like 'I eat strawberry yesterday'. It looks like she needs to read more. I tried to get her to read Enid Blyton books. Lucas has almost the complete collection of Enid Blyton books. It is too much for her. Well, slowly…

Chloe has piano lesson and boy, wasn't she lazy. She never practiced her piano except for 1 minute before she goes for her lesson. Each time I asked her to practice, she replied 'Tomorrow'.

She loves the face painting she had in one of the friend's birthday party. She refused to have her face cleaned that night. Slept with the Hello Kitty painting and asked twice at night if the painting has come off. Then she asked me to print this picture so that she can enjoy looking at herself!

World Cup Fever Continues

We are almost at semi finals and in World Cup and Lucas's fever continues. He plays football everyday in school and practices at home. He even watched some of the games and had better memory than me. He remembers the score and whether the goal is penalty kick and at what minutes the goal was scored.
For your info, I did switch off this alarm more than once. If it is on weekend, I will let the alarm go off for a few seconds. If he is not woken by the alarm, I will tell him he sleeps through the alarm. Then he can't get grouchy and get annoyed with me. He bets with his father which team will win. When he wakes in the morning, the first thing he does is take my phone and check the scores.

I bought hin football jersey a few days ago. There were limited choices (with this late in the stage) and found him the team which is still in - Netherlands. He was not pleased. He wanted Brazil or Germany. And he asked to buy the ball - Brazuca. See, he even knows the name. His father told him he can get one if the ball goes for half price after the games has ended.

In the next world cup, he will enjoy the games better…when he is four years older.

World Cup Fever

We are on World Cup Fever now. The fever rubs to Lucas too. His school is taking the opportunity to introduce soccer to the children. Last Monday, he was asked to go to school in football jersey instead of uniform. They had their first football workshop. A football coach from outside showed them some of the different types of kicks. He came back with terms like rainbow kick, round the world kick , etc etc. Then the homework is practise those kicks. How unconventional. He enjoys it and practise diligently. We have no goal post. so he tapes a hoola hoop to the wall and aim at the center of the loop. Every now and them I heard the door or window got hit by the ball. On Thursday, he had his second workshop. He said this time it was boring because they were taught how to dribble.

The school also make all the children participate. Each class has to take a country. Lucas has Russia and Chloe has Japan. In addition, for Lucas, each of them has to take a country. Lucas gets Ivory Coast. He insists on watching Ivory Coast against Japan at 12 midnight today (I'm not sure if it is midnight or 4am). He went to sleep at 9pm+ and set the alarm for 12 midnight!


Should I turn off the alarm???

Putting on Weight Slowly

I have not weigh myself for more than a year. And after the holiday, my skirts could not fit me anymore. So, I weigh myself and had a shock in my life. The heaviest ever!! and I am not telling the number. Sigh…..
I run twice a week, about 2.5km each run. I go for yoga once a week. I had not been doing any sit-ups or stretching. I had been eating and sitting down a lot for work. Bad bad…
I need to 'reboot' myself and watch what I eat. Time to google for some exercise for flat tummy and firmer butt. Sigh….

Mother's Day

My kids and husband cooked breakfast for me for Mother's Day. Lucas asked if I wanted breakfast in bed. First I said ok, then I changed my mind. Would be messy eating on the bed with the kids.
Lucas was preparing the pancake mix while Dominic was getting up. When I tried to help him, he said, 'You are suppose to be reading the newspaper outside'. How sweet.
But after breakfast, he came over to me and said 'I have a present for you'. He gave me one of this stinky fart as presents!

Oh, well, Happy Mother's Day.

Easter Holiday to Australia - Canberra Part 2

After 6 days in Sydney, we took a train to Canberra to visit friends. My parents stayed on in Sydney with my sister. Canberra is called a 'retirement' city. It serves as the government administrative city and all activities revolves around the federal government. Pace is slow compared to Sydney. But the sky is always clear and blue. Nice place to live when one ages.

The train ride to Canberra took almost 5 hours. But the seats are spacious and there was a restaurant wagon.

Long day, had to take a nap in the train.

First playground in Canberra and in fact, first activity in Canberra.

Already felt at home...

Getting acquainted to Snowy, the dog.

More playground and this is in the shape of acorn.

Guess who had fun?

There was sand to play with too.

View from the playground. See the blue sky, postcard like.

So much space for the kids to run around.

Up close with the kangaroos.

We visited Quest.con. It is a highly recommended place to visit. Entertaining for both children and adults. This insect is just like dried leave. 

Some thermal experiment where my glasses and nose are cold (the purpler is gets, the colder it is)

Chloe trying our an experiment. Quest.com has many galleries with different themes such as water, gravity, etc. Each topic has hands on experiment everyone can try and an explanation on how the concept was used in our daily life.

Lucas was trying another experiment.

There was also activities for kids. Here, the kids were taught on how to build a paper rocket. Then they get to launch and see how far can the rocket flies.

Chloe's rocket flew much further than Lucas's.

More playtime under blue sky, clean air and sparse space.

Another playground. I have lost track of the number.

From a viewing point.

Picnic by the lake. When the wind is not blowing, it was great. When the wind blows, you will look for you jacket.

Some autumn leaves color in front of a vineyard.

They meant to look for books but ended up finding candies.

We had such great good in Canberra, We had beef, seafood, veal, pork and all the sausages, ham, yogurt. 

Last pit stop to the playground before we leave for Sydney.

Another viewing point .

We took a bus to Sydney. Took only 3.5 hours.

It was Easter Monday when we left and bunny was giving away chocolate.

The hear nothing, see nothing and speak nothing monkeys.

Maybe one day, the will form a famous band?

Home sweet home